AUBURN -- The Tigers' practices and scrimmages have been closed to outside observers, but that hasn't completely stopped the flow of information from the Plains.

Some of it has been surprising.

Players developed roles and/or reputations during the 2011 season that meant almost nothing once spring practice began. Two new coordinators greeted the team at that point, which spawned an honest re-evaluation of every player.

This wasn't a lip service. This was real stuff.

Fall camp has provided the first real clues about what Brian VanGorder and Scot Loeffler value most in their players. And those decisions, in turn, provide a glimpse into how those men plan to operate their groups this fall.

With that in mind, let's examine the team's current state and see what sticks out.